#a contribution to Billy being a big cat

[every-dayiwakeup]

Steve gently takes Billy's broad shoulders, and the blonde just melts, like the ice cream Steve serves ungrateful brats (the ones he doesn't babysit).

"You're so easy," he observes as Billy lets himself become one with his carpet.

"You callin' me a slut, Harrington?" Billy purrs slow and sweet, his mouth quirking into a sorry attempt of regressing to his familiar scowl.

Try as he might, if he was trying to appear threatening, he wasn't succeeding.

Not at his current state; sprawled out under Steve with a dazed look in his eyes, his hair frizzed and sticking up in several different places, a lazy smile effortlessly spreading across his face.

Spending more time in the sun peppered his round cheeks and button nose with more freckles.

Steve snorts, shaking his head. His ponytail swats Billy, who swats back, hissing in surprise. This makes Steve's chuckle evolve into a full on laugh.

"Whatcha laughin' at?" Billy demands, squinting at him.

"You."

Billy turns red at that. "Well Harrington you ain't a pretty sight either-"

"It's not about how you look, jeez!" Steve assures him, and Billy huffs under him, yanking his chest hair.

The whole situation is just so outlandish, the pain only makes Steve laugh harder. "I just... can't believe anyone could ever be scared of you.You're literally so cute!"

He pokes the soft strip of exposed flesh covering Billy's abs, and the blonde yowls, blushing up to the tips of his ears. "'M not cute, dickhead."

"You are. I mean... you're pretty, too," Steve finds himself saying awkwardly. As if Hargrove doesn't have a big enough ego already.

"Shuddup," Billy mumbles. "Not cute."

"You repeating it doesn't make it any less true." Steve squishes his cheeks together, and Billy flips him the bird.

"My God, you're like a fucking cat. Wonder what happens if I do this?" Steve tickles the extra chub under Billy's chin, and a soft mewl is heard from the younger boy. "Face it Hargrove, you're as cute as a button."

"If you tell anyone..."

"Easy, Kitty," Steve snickers, poking his tummy again. Soft.

Both actions earns Steve a well earned sock to the jaw. The punch is a bit pitiful, but it's clear Billy is either very sensitive to touch... or maybe it's just that one part of his body that's sensitive.

Steve licks his lips as lewd thoughts play out in his swimming head. To be fair, whenever he was with Billy, he never stopped thinking questionable, sinful thoughts.

And then Billy barfs all over Steve. A grimace on his face, he says, "If you continue to think I'm cute covered in vomit, Harrington, I implore you to get help."

"Why'd ya...? And on me?"

"Because someone wearing socks with sandles makes me sick. What do you think, Steve?"

"That you have a vendetta against my chest hair?"

Billy proceeds looks at him like he's a cat about to spit up a hair ball out of sheer spite.

And perhaps Steve does need help, because all that he's thinking is, "Oh my God, he called me Steve!"

Tags:

@ouizzyharringrove

@hardestgrove

@whoringrove

@harringroveho

@emeraldwitches

@geormenia

@suspiciouslackofclowns

@jaethecreator

@polaris-ursae

@wixterirox

@lovebillyhargrove

#Steve stand UP sir #a contribution to Billy being a big cat #inspired by a gif i saw of dacre #billy is a lil shit #steve is a simp #chubby billy hargrove #you can pry him from my cold dead hands #harringrove #harringrove imagines #harringrove drabble #billy being sensitive to touch #but not in a sad context #i felt like the clown energy in my recent posts was lacking #i must keep the circus going! #steve in a ponytail #is something that can be so personal #take a shot of coca cola everytime billy says harrington #i just think they deserve to be goofy #and im tired of writing about n*il at the moment #insomniac writes

[adelineraineswrites]

Steve Harrington Headcanons

Personality (ish) Stuff

Bi

Autistic (very very particular with how he does his hair, his car, his room, etc.)

ESFP

Marigold/mustard yellow

The pierced friend to Eddie's tats. It starts with getting his ears pierced, then cartilage, brow, nose, maybe a belly button one on a dare, but he finds he likes it, so he keeps it.

He and Tommy definitely had a thing when Steve was still a douchebag. Can see him maybe having a thing with Billy, too, when he's deep in his wallowing and self-deprecation, and he doesn't think he deserves better/deserves what he got from Billy.

Very much a hands on/kinesthetic learner.

Has vision problems, audio processing issues, and migraines on occasion from the head trauma.

Christmas Mom TM

Has a savings account that he regularly puts money into. His parents inconsistently cut him off that at some point, if they do give him any money, he puts it into savings. Also contributes when he starts working more regularly.

Platonically and romantically, loves being called: princess, baby girl, pretty boy/girl, honey, sweetie.

Keeps his nail bat in his car, usually wrapped in a towel to make sure no small injuries are sustained by accident. If his PTSD or anxiety are super high, he'll have it by his side nearly all the time.

Likes booty shorts; also got into tennis skirts and other pleated skirts by proxy. Likes how they twirl.

Has an aversion to stuff high on his neck. Just below or loose popped collars are fine, but doesn't like necklaces or turtlenecks.

Definitely got into Marvel Comics at some point and found himself relating to Iron Man. Something about being a spoiled rich kid with distant parents, has taken tumbles in his own life, has had to prove time and again that he's capable and changed, and cares for the family he's found.

Favors dogs. But would also give a cat love and attention, and even take in a stray or two.

Always runs hot.

With the Others

Gossips with Robin like they're moms in a wine club

Pretty much canon, but would beat someone's ass up for those he loves. But I'm more so talking in the you just say 'kick their ass' and he'll do it, no questions asked.

The only people he trusts to touch his hair are: Eddie, Nancy (after she gets the perm), Lucas, and Erica, because they at least have some semblance or understanding of haircare and styling.

Learned how to style and braid afro/super curly hair for Erica, Lucas, and Eddie so they could have someone help them when needed.

Gives great piggy back rides.

Kinky

100% has a big dick

Can be dominant in bed, in the sense that he is fully capable of lifting and carrying people with relative ease.

Breeding Kink; admittedly this is going off what was mentioned to Nancy, but it's not specific to her or even specific to any gender. There is something there about wanting to be a father (especially a better one than his own dad), and loving the goobers he already takes care of, but there's something about the riskiness of it, too. As much as he loves the goobers, he'd like one or two kids of his own, too.

Okay with daddy being used on him, but only really in the instances of the breeding kink. Otherwise, he is babygirl 88% of the time.

Can eat pussy within an inch of his life, but definitely did lots of research and practice to get there.

Gets pegged, preferably by women. It's about power (think Markiplier with Lady Dimitrescu)

#steve harrington #steve harrington headcanon #stranger things headcanons #stranger things

[harangularspectacular]

Throughout the last eighteen months or so, I have been trying to make a mixtape inspired by Robert Altman’s 1993 film adaption of some of Raymond Carver’s short stories - almost an adaptation of an adaption.

The idea was for each song to tell a story, like an anthology, but also for all the songs to contribute towards a broader narrative as well, like a short story cycle. I guess, more broadly speaking, you could simply call it a concept album.

Actually, the initial idea was for each song to posses an ekphrastic relationship with the one before it, a series of interconnected vignettes from different characters’ points of view, painting a widescreen picture of a community. It was really difficult to achieve this while still maintaining musical cohesion though, so I have compromised by ostensibly focalising just one character for most of the narrative.

I spent a long time working on the track listing but couldn’t improve upon the first draft, which feels to me like it possess a quality of generational ambiguity while still maintaining a sense of forward momentum. For better or worse, it seems culturally-specific - although this is mostly a vague way of alluding to its cross-continental whiteness.

I have titled of the playlist ‘Shorter Cuts’ because its runtime is significantly shorter than the Altman film.

A friend thought I was going to use this playlist as inspiration for my own novel, or anthology, which hadn’t occurred to me. But it’s an exciting idea, especially because that might be a form of authorship that feels less ethically-complicated than curation. So, in the hope that this might be a generative creative writing activity, here‘s my liner notes / story outline:

Angel from Montgomery by Bonnie Raitt

We meet an old woman. She is married, though her husband works long hours. She dreams of flying to Montgomery.

Factory by Bruce Springsteen

We meet a man who works in a factory. He is possibly the woman’s husband - or is of no relation. He is definitely someone’s father, though. Because he suffers, he wants others to suffer, too.

This Year by The Mountain Goats

We meet the child of a man and a woman - possibly the man and woman from the previous two songs. The child wants to survive and escape.

Pressure to Party by Julia Jacklin

We meet a young adult - possibly the same one from the previous song - who wants to find a way of being that is free from history.

Dancing in the Dark by Lucy Dacus

We meet a young person who is desperate to fall in love and escape their small town.

Shark Smile by Big Thief

We meet someone who is driving down the highway with the person they love when disaster strikes.

Heavy Heart by You Am I

We meet a person in mourning who hasn’t left their house in weeks.

Goose Snow Cone by Aimee Mann

We meet a person who is feeling fragile, trying to heal, finding it hard to be vulnerable with their friends.

I See a Darkness by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy

We meet a person who confesses to their friend that they are finding it hard to have hope for their future.

Lived in Bars by Cat Power

We meet a person who lives in bars, pursuing transcendence or oblivion.

Tennessee by Silver Jews

We meet a person who has met someone and wants to have a future together.

White Cockatoo by The Ocean Party

We meet a person who’s future is starting sooner than they expected.

Baby Bonus by Dan Kelly

We meet somebody - perhaps the partner of the person from the previous song - who is needing support to raise their child.

Mythological Beauty by Big Thief

We meet a person - perhaps the same person from the previous song, or perhaps their parent, or child - who wants their mother to feel safe and loved.

Should Have Known Better by Sufjan Stevens

We meet a person who regrets not contacting their mother before her death, and who feels determined to appreciate the beauty of those family members that remain in their life.

The Practice of Love by Jenny Hval, Laura Jean, Vivian Wang

We meet a person - or a person’s divided consciousness, or persons; perhaps someone from the previous songs - who is growing older, reflecting on the passage of time, mortality, love, and their desire to feel a sense of purpose.

#Spotify #music #writing #playlist #mixtape #concept album #Robert Altman #Raymond Carver #Big Thief #Sufjan Stevens #Jenny Hval

[ashtray-girl]

Hey! I know you don't have the answer to this, but what are some of your theories concerning Johnny's feelings towards Morrissey? When i listen/read Morrissey's solo work it seems that their relationship wasn't completely one-sided (in the other hand in the smiths it seems so). Also how Morrissey often gives hints in his songs (and even in that interview "why doesn’t anyone ever assume that Johnny Marr was in love with me?") that Johnny isn't/wasn't being true to himself. 1/2

Especially in the song (that wasn’t released)  “Born To Hang”  “I am born to hang but not to have kids and to never be wed, no to someone who I don't even love” like it seems so strange.  By the way i absolutely love this blog (especially your essays) you’re such a good analyst, keep going! 2/2

hey anon, thank you so much! i’m glad you enjoy my ramblings! :)

i’ll try to answer your question step by step (and as usual, keep in mind that these are all just theories and speculations... after all, i wasn’t even born when all of this stuff happened haha)

so, first of all: do i believe that Johnny could be gay/bi? personally... yes. i don’t know if you’ve ever read Johnny’s autobiography, Set The Boy Free... it came out a few years ago and there’s a passage in the 5th chapter which i’ve never seen anyone talk abt, but which i personally think it’s worth considering when talking abt Johnny’s stand on the lgbt community: “My friend Tony was a beautiful creature, another Bowie fan, with a blond Ziggy haircut, high cheekbones, and green eyes like a Siamese cat. [...] Tony was three years older than me and was the first guy I knew who was openly gay. [...] We were together a lot, and it got some people talking, which didn’t bother me at all - we had a lot of things in common, and plenty to talk about. [...] One Saturday afternoon [...] we were waiting at the bus stop when two big uglies came over and started making cooing noises and blowing kisses. I looked at Tony’s face as he continued talking to me, and I could see he was aware of the situation. ‘Eh,’ said one of the lads, ‘are you queers?’. They were obviously up for a fight. I readied myself for the inevitable as Tony continued to talk to me with his back to the goons and appeared to be ignoring their remarks until one pushed him in the back and said, ‘Eh, y’fuckin’ queer’. With that, Tony grabbed my head and kissed me on the lips for what seemed like a very, very long time, then spun around and attacked the biggest of the two with really hard punches to the face until the lad went to his knees. He then grabbed the other guy, who was backing off, punched him very hard in the face and threw him down into the road full of traffic. [...] As we ran towards the train station, Tony turned to me and said, ‘That was nice’ and then, laughing, he added, ‘Don’t worry, I won’t do it again.’

let’s keep in mind this was back in the 70s, Johnny was still a teenager growing up in a violently homophobic environment, and yet he makes a point of underlining the fact that ppl thinking he was gay bc he was hanging out with a gay bloke didn’t bother him in the slightest, even though he could’ve literally been beaten up for it. it’s true that he later met Angie, they got together and he never looked back, but i often wonder... if he had met Morrissey while he was still single, would things have panned out differently for them? if Morrissey’s romantic feelings towards Johnny had been mutual, would Johnny have had the courage to take their relationship any further? when reading Johnny’s interviews, i always get the feeling that he’s the kind of person who would rather show than tell. and, after leaving The Smiths, what does he do (among other things)? he collabs with The Pet Shop Boys, another band whose members have often been rumoured to be in a relationship with each other. and, a couple of years later, he co-writes and plays on Billy Bragg’s song Sexuality, with lyrics such as: “And just because you’re gay I won’t turn you away / If you stick around I’m sure that we can find some common ground.” it’s like... he never reveals anything specifically abt himself and his sexual orientation, but he uses the thing he’s most famous for (his guitar work) to leave enough breadcrumbs around to let ppl know exactly where he stands on the matter.

now... do i believe Morrissey was in love with Johnny? yes. obviously i will never be able to prove that 100%, but i feel like the clues are just too many to ignore.

however... do i believe that Johnny reciprocated Morrissey’s feelings? ... yes. kind of. i think that because they weren’t just friends but colleagues as well, most of their relationship was shrouded in ambiguity out of necessity. my theory is that Johnny knew of Morrissey’s feelings for him but that he may have underestimated them, thinking it was only a crush when actually for Moz it was much more than that, only realising the full extent of the situation when it was too late (after Morrissey allegedly phoned him to tell him he’d od’d on sleeping pills and confessed his love for him - which would also explain why, according to Bernard Sumner, he was feeling “traumatised” by him). this, combined with the fact that he was already in a relationship and that his drive and ambition made him prioritise the band and their music above everything else, may all have been contributing factors as to why he never felt like he could’ve explored, let alone embraced whatever he was feeling towards Morrissey, even if he wanted to.

#answered #marrissey

[drproximo]

Original Versions of Songs You Didn’t Know were Covers

Originally published for Geeks and Beats, August 2017.

https://www.geeksandbeats.com/2017/08/songs-didnt-know-covers/

I love a well-done cover song, and I especially love a well-done cover that deviates from the original. There’s something endlessly fascinating about how two different people can arrange such dramatically different interpretations of the same source material. What makes this especially fun is when you discover that a song you’ve been enjoying for years is itself a reinterpretation. Sometimes it even goes a step further, and a song that you knew as a cover turns out to be a cover of a cover. Researching this list became a much more involved “rabbit hole” than I ever anticipated, and I am delighted to share my findings with you. I’m confident that, like me, you’ll have more than a few “whoa, I didn’t know that!” moments. 

Bruce Springsteen – Blinded by the Light

When a WatchMojo video got me digging into this awhile back, this was the one that surprised me most. This is one of those songs that I feel like I’ve been aware of for as long as I’ve cared about music. So it was a bit of a shock to discover in my 40s that, not only is it a cover, but it was originally by The Boss. There are differences in the arrangement and the lyrics, but the Manfred Mann version is generally considered the definitive rendition. 

Tina Turner – Don’t Turn Around

While “Blinded by the Light” was the big surprise on my first dive into this topic, this next one blew me away even moreso. Ace of Base’s third most successful single was originally a Tina Turner song, the B-side of her 1986 single “Typical Male”. Bonnie Tyler, whose repertoire of covers is expansive and impressive, also did her own interpretation on 1988’s Hide Your Heart. 

I’ve Got My Mind Set On You – James Ray 

Time for a little history about “Weird Al” Yankovic. In 1988, Al released his album Even Worse. The title had two meanings. First of all, the lead single was “Fat”, a parody of Michael Jackson’s “Bad”, and the album cover was also a direct parody of Jackson’s Bad cover. In other words, since Jackson was declaring himself to be “Bad”, Al decided he was “Even Worse”. Second, all of the other parodies were of covers that had recently been hit singles, by Tiffany, Billy Idol, Los Lobos, and George Harrison.

The last one was the one that surprised me. Harrison’s most solid 80s hit was actually a cover. I owned 45s of the originals of all the others, but I had never heard James Ray’s original of “I’ve Got My Mind Set On You” (which Al turned into “(This Song’s Just) Six Words Long“). 

The Tide is High – The Paragons 

One of Blondie’s most distinctive qualities was, and still is, a blending of several sounds and moods. As such, this reggae ditty, which was their third #1 single on the Billboard Hot 100, didn’t raise many eyebrows. So, few at the time knew that it was a cover of a 1966 rocksteady song by The Paragons. Although, the fact that the gender-swap screwed up the rhyme scheme could have been a clue. 

Torn – Ednaswap 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OoEdfB7l18

This one’s a little weird. Shortly after Natalie Imbruglia had her breakthrough hit with “Torn” in 1997, there was a short-lived minor controversy. Apparently, some people were upset when they found out that Imbruglia didn’t write the song. It was a cover of a 1995 song by a relatively unknown alternative act called Ednaswap. Nobody claimed had that she wrote the song, however, and there was nothing new about singers having a cover be their first hit. So the “controversy” was quickly reduced to a footnote, whose most prominent documentation is a mention on Pop-Up Video.

 Adding to the weirdness, Ednaswap’s “original” wasn’t technically the first recording of the song. Two years before they got around to releasing it, a Danish translation,“Brændt” (“Burned”), was released by Lis Sørensen. 

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun – Robert Hazard 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5aLNwOxPsjg

I almost didn’t include this one because, quite frankly, the original is awful. And, let’s be real, there’s something creepy about a guy breathily singing about what girls want. Thankfully, Hazard’s recording never got past the demo stage, so I’ll choose to consider Lauper’s version “technically a cover but sort of not really”. 

Downtown Train – Tom Waits

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLtZKkCIVmI

If you asked a random sampling of people around you, there’s a good chance that many of them wouldn’t be able to name a Tom Waits song. On the other hand, it’s almost a guarantee that they’re familiar with at least one of his songs, but covered by someone else. The Eagles, Alison Krauss, Sarah McLachlan, Bruce Springsteen, and The Ramones are among the many big names to contribute to this. Heck, actress Scarlett Johansson recorded an entire album of Tom Waits songs (it was kind of awful, but I digress). 

One of the most successful Waits covers is Rod Stewart’s “Downtown Train”. The original was a standout track and minorly-successful single from Waits’ 1985 masterpiece Rain Dogs. Stewart’s 1991 cover starts off with a similarly restrained sound, but gradually swells into a much “bigger”, almost celebratory sound. 

Piece of My Heart – Erma Franklin 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0QAxIKf8G4

First off, the more well-known recording, with Janis Joplin on vocals, is properly credited to her band Big Brother and the Holding Company. Second, covers generally draw from that 1968 version, but the original was by Erma Franklin (Aretha Franklin’s older sister). Faith Hill’s 1994 atrocity seemed to be an attempt to destroy the song’s legacy, but Melissa Etheridge managed to restore it a little bit in 2005, even though it was a clumsy attempt at a comeback for Etheridge.

The First Cut is the Deepest – P.P. Arnold 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1-g5VG2pWg

This is one of my favourites. With many of the entries on this list, it’s fun to play the original for someone and watch their face as they slowly realize what they’re hearing. P.P. Arnold’s original recording of “The First Cut is the Deepest” (written by Cat Stevens) also happens to be a fantastic song in its own right. 

In 1977, Rod Stewart (him again?) released what most would consider the definitive version, and in 2003 Sheryl Crow covered it as one of two new songs recorded for her best-of collection. 

Nothing Compares 2 U – The Family 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ZlzN0Gtpp8

In the 80s, there were a lot of Prince side projects and spin-offs. Morris Day and The Time may be the most memorable, with their mega-hit “Jungle Love“. Wendy & Lisa, Vanity 6, and Apollonia 5 also enjoyed a little time in the spotlight. One of the lesser-known projects, however, was The Family. The Family was often tasked with bringing life to songs that Prince wrote but wasn’t interested in doing himself. So even if you knew that Prince wrote Sinéad O’Connor’s 1990 breakthrough hit “Nothing Compares 2 U“, you might not have known that The Family had recorded it 5 years prior. 

Prince would eventually record a live version as a duet with Rosie Gaines, which was included on the various iterations of his 1993 compilation The Hits. Also included on this compilation were Prince’s originals of “I Feel 4 U” (covered by Chaka Khan in 1984), and “When U Were Mine” (covered by Cyndi Lauper in 1983). 

Killing Me Softly – Lori Lieberman 

In 1996, the Fugees released their breakthrough mega-hit, “Killing Me Softly“. Not everyone knew it was a cover of a 1973 Roberta Flack song, but many did. Even fewer knew, however, that Flack’s rendition was itself a cover. The original, by Lori Lieberman in 1972, was a soft acoustic rendition of a poem. “His song” was Don McLean’s “Empty Chairs”. 

The first cover could have turned out quite differently; according to Wikipedia: 

Helen Reddy has said she was sent the song, but “the demo… sat on my turntable for months without being played because I didn’t like the title”. 

Roberta Flack’s successful 1973 cover is still soft, but with some defining chord changes, and a slightly more soulful sound.

Further mutating the tune, The Fugees laid down their hip-hop version in 1996, to much acclaim. 

If you poke around YouTube looking for versions of this song, you’ll probably find about a dozen copies of a crooner version credited to Frank Sinatra. It does kind of sound like The Chairman, but he never actually recorded it. That’s Perry Como, from his 1973 album And I Love You So. 

Some Guys Have All The Luck – Persuaders 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3NWbvFsBVo

First released in 1973 by R&B group The Persuaders, Rod Stewart’s cover of “Some Guys Have All the Luck” served as one of the important hits of his 80s comeback (and his third time appearing on this list, what is it with this guy and covers?) In between those two versions, Robert Palmer also recorded his own version, with significantly altered lyrics and arrangement. Palmer’s version is probably the strangest, kind of a gritty new wave thing, reminiscent of Pete Shelley’s “Homosapien“. 

There have been several other covers, including a gender swapped country version. Of special note is Maxi Priest’s 1987 rendition, which (mostly) returned to the original lyrics and arrangement, but with Maxi’s signature “reggae fusion” sound. 

Tainted Love – Gloria Jones

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSehtaY6k1U

When Marilyn Manson covered “Tainted Love” in 2001 for the Not Another Teen Movie soundtrack, it was fairly common knowledge that he was covering a Soft Cell song. Soft Cell’s 1981 arrangement, however, was not the original. American soul singer Gloria Jones’ Motown-influenced version was a B-side for “My Bad Boy’s Comin’ Home”, which failed to make a lasting impression domestically. Jones herself, however, had very much made an impression in England, where she was dubbed the “Northern Queen of Soul”. 

Eventually the song entered the radar of the synth-pop duo Soft Cell. Their 1981 version became their only major hit in North America, and one of the defining songs of the 80s. 

Side notes and honorable mentions: 

You might already knew that The Isley Brothers recorded “Twist and Shout” a year before The Beatles, but did you know that a group called The Top Notes recorded it a year before that? 

“I Love Rock n Roll” by Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, arguably one of the most ubiquitous and recognized songs of the modern era, was originally released by The Arrows in 1975. 

Animotion’s “Obsession”, unofficial theme song of the fashion world for more than 30 years, was originally recorded by Michael Des Barres & Holly Knight.

Madonna’s “Ray of Light” was adapted from “Sepheryn” by Curtiss Maldoon, though it’s not a direct cover. 

Led Zeppelin have a storied history of borrowing, adapting, and straight-up stealing. A cursory Google search will provide many articles and videos discussing this, but the two examples which I think best fit the theme are “Dazed and Confused”, originally by Jake Holmes, and “Stairway to Heaven”, adapted from “Taurus” by Spirit. 

Johnny Cash’s “Folsom Prison Blues” was adapted from “Crescent City Blues“, written by Gordon Jenkins and sung by Beverly Mahr. Also, more than half the songs on Cash’s 5 American Recordings albums are reinterpretations of a diverse selection of songs.

#music #cover songs #madonna #weird al yankovic #tom waits #beatles #cyndi lauper #bruce springsteen #killing me softly #twist and shout #johnny cash

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Joseph Allred

Photo Credit: Susanna Bolle

Joseph Allred grew up in Tennessee and currently lives in Boston, where he’s found good company with acoustic musicians such as Glenn Jones and Rob Noyes. Like them, he makes music that can easily be tagged as American Primitive guitar, a category that Dusted’s Bill Meyer invoked in a 2019 review of two Allred cassettes that were issued on the Garden Portal label: “Of all the musicians who convened in Takoma Park, MD last year to attend The 1000 Incarnations of the Rose festival, Joseph Allred hews closest to American Primitive guitar’s mystical spirit.”

But Allred has also made music that has little to do with that approach, and is not even played on acoustic guitar. A quick survey of the seven vinyl albums and virtual basketful of tapes and downloads that Allred has released on Feeding Tube, Garden Portal, Melliphonic, and Scissor Tail Records since 2013 will turn up songs played on piano and harmonium, banjo instrumentals, and sound collages made from cell phone recordings as well as sonically rich and emotionally commanding acoustic guitar soli. Meyer also reviewed Allred’s newest release, Michael, out on Feeding Tube, noting that “his grasp of the essence of American Primitive guitar, which is that music is not just an idiosyncratic reordering of certain influences… that are played on a steel-stringed acoustic guitar, but an articulation of one person’s uneasy relationship to the wider world.”

Mike Gangloff – “The Other Side of Catawba”

Ten Years Gone : A Tribute to Jack Rose by Mike Gangloff

This song was Mike’s contribution to Buck Curran’s 10 Years Gone tribute to Jack Rose that came out last year. In addition to being a moving tribute to his friend and musical co-conspirator, it points to the mystical, dirge-y side of the Appalachian fiddle tradition that I’m particularly fond of, evoking more than a bit the keening wail of graveside bagpipes.

Powers/Rolin Duo — St

St by Powers / Rolin Duo

A lovely ecstatic drone folk album from these lynchpins of the Columbus, OH cat-instagramming scene. Shimmery, rumbly, at once earth-planted and heaven-turned. 12-string guitar paints color washes like the album’s watercolor sun-scape cover and hammered dulcimer fills to the brim with echo, sometimes sounding on the verge of being blown apart by its own reverberation. It’s been providing a much-needed meditation and catharsis lately.

Ostad Elahi — The Sacred Lute: The Art of Ostad Elahi

Nur Ali Elahi was a Kurdish musician, mystic, jurist, and philosopher born in Iran to the Yarsani religious leader Hajj Nematollah. Despite showing a prodigious talent for the tanbur and being recognized as a master musician at an early age, he never played music in a professional performance setting, preferring to use the instrument, which accompanied him throughout his life, as part of a personal spiritual practice. The tanbur has an airy, ephemeral sound often described as dry or even ascetic, but it uses a rolling right hand technique that creates seemingly unending hypnotic swirls of notes.

Buck Gooter — Finer Thorns

Finer Thorns by Buck Gooter

I met Billy Brett and Terry Turtle about 10 years ago when the band I used to play in shared a spot with Buck Gooter on the lineup of a Harrisonburg, VA basement show. I thought of Suicide and Big Black with some primal Ramones-tinted sludge seeping through the cracks, but it was ultimately something uniquely weird in the best possible way. I didn’t get to know Terry as well as I wish I could’ve before he died last December, leaving Finer Thorns as his last album, but he was a special person and a true outsider art savant. I wish Billy the best as he carries the Buck Gooter flag forward on his own.

Stanley Brothers — The Complete Columbia Stanley Brothers

My dad sang in a gospel quartet and I used to poke fun a bit by asking if it hurt his feelings that most of the gigs they got were at funerals. Maybe because I’ve experienced a lot of loss in the last decade or so I understand the special place gospel music has around death for some of us, but I think it can call us to start building a heaven on earth just as it imagines a place where our departed friends and lovers watch over and wait for us. These recordings made between 1949-52 are some of the finest gospel and bluegrass to be found and have been my medicine for homesickness and world-weariness.

Arvo Pärt — Für Alina

I did a transcription of this piano solo for a tape that came out on Michael Potter’s Garden Portal label two years ago and found my first experience with transcription deeply rewarding. Für Alina is a quiet, introspective piece, arranged to slowly unfold and then fold back up and consisting of two voices that move together against an occasionally sounding pedal tone. When I arranged it for guitar, one of the alterations I needed to make is that I put the two voices in the same octave, whereas on the piano they’re played an octave apart. Pärt intended the dedication to “Alina” as a consolation to a mother who had recently been separated from her daughter, so distance is a theme of the piece, but I found it especially poignant that the tension between the two voices seems much more pronounced when they’re put closer together.

Julian Bream — Dances of Dowland

The recently departed Julian Bream was a giant of classical guitar but his anachronistic lute playing technique and use of an instrument with some modern amenities earned him the ire of the more authenticity-minded lutenist community (apparently a fairly ornery bunch). I don’t recommend caring too much about the difference between the right hands of a classical guitarist and a dedicated lutenist, and I still love this album of Dowland renditions for the lute. Bream is a particularly good candidate to bring out the drama and flamboyance that can be extracted from the music, and it’s always a treat to hear the joy and mastery he brought with him to whatever era or instrument he happened to be playing.

Popol Vuh — Spirit of Peace

Music can be weaponized and used to challenge oppressive structures in overt and destructive ways, but in the hands of those like Florian Fricke, it creates spaces for self-transcendence and communion with the Divine, which builds the foundation necessary for successfully transfiguring those structures or building new ones. It allows us to enlighten and empty ourselves, to become conduits for Divinity and activate it in the world. Like much of Popol Vuh’s music, Spirit of Peace speaks from soul to soul.

Alan Sparhawk — Solo Guitar

I’ve been experimenting with an electric guitar a little after having gone two years or so without plugging in at all and using some of that time to think about what the electric guitar excels at or might be uniquely capable of. Alan Sparhawk’s Solo Guitar came out the year after he had a well-documented breakdown that led to the cancelling of a 2005 Low tour and an eventual hospitalization, and this album stands out to me as a testament to how bleak and alienated the electric guitar can sound. It’s also a reminder of what made me put the electric guitar down for so long to begin with. It’s a beautiful album, but sometimes I can’t help but hear audio renderings of hellscapes Alan must have been fighting through.

Dorothee Soelle — The Silent Cry: Mysticism and Resistance

Dorothee Soelle was a German Protestant theologian who came of age against the shadow of Germany’s horrific deeds during World War II. She spent her professional career as an outspoken critic of the Vietnam War and Cold War arms race, patriarchal renderings of God, and a perversion of Christianity she called “Christofascism.” The Silent Cry stands as one of her most important and widely read works. She imagines an imminent, politically engaged mysticism, one equally at odds with the violent, patriarchal exploitation enacted by capitalism, and other-worldly mysticisms that refuse social analysis.

#dusted magagzine #listed #joseph allred #poor faulkner #mike gangloff #Matthew J. Rolin #Jen Powers #ostad elahi #buck gooter #stanley brothers #arvo pärt #julian bream #popol vuh #alan sparhawk #dorothee soelle

[ragamuffingunnar]

@brucespringsteen tagged me to answer a bunch of tough questions, thxs joey Rules: Answer 10 questions, tag 10 people and make another 10 questions. 1. name one song that you feel embodies where you live Last Of The Big Time Spenders - Billy Joel (Streetlife Serenade is fitting as a whole imo) This is hard to answer. I live in Northern NH, which used to be full of factories, mills and the railroad. A very (and I mean huge) portion of those jobs went away, for one reason or another. When they yarded the rail line from Woodsville to Berlin, it costed the North Country something like 21,000 jobs alone. So. We’re not sad folks, but tough and tired. It’s hard when the state wants the North to be a tourist playground and not pay a living wage.  2. this is corny but im curious: whats a stereotypical thing about your star sign that you’re guilty of? Capricorn, sensitive and afraid of taking risks. 3. name the artists, musicians, writers, speakers, friends, people who’ve shaped your philosophy? Philosophy is something I’ve never really thought about, tbh. I know that’s weird. Only recently (past two years) have I started to really feel music in my bones. Musicians are the biggest contribute to my outlook on things, among self educating and reading. Woody & Arlo Guthrie, Billy Joel, Jackson Browne, Tom Petty, Bruce Springsteen, Townes Van Zandt, Steve Young, Waylon Jennings, Johnny Paycheck, Steve Earle, Johnny Cash, etc.  4. recall the last idea that interested you Starting a paper mill from scratch, going back to school to be mechanic/ASE cert’d.  5. if you became an urban legend in your town, what event, action, etc. started the myth? I honestly have no idea other than being an annoying wonk. 6. your favorite springsteen lyrics? Literally impossible. Song that’s speaking to me right now is: Just one kiss from you my brother and we'll ride until we fall / We’ll sleep in the fields, we'll sleep by the rivers / And in the morning we'll make a plan / Well, if you can't make it / Stay hard, stay hungry, stay alive if you can / And meet me in a dream of this hard land 7. do you have any mantras or rituals you’ve created to help you through your day? Not really. Everyday is exactly the same, and I’m in a rut. The only thing consistent is I clean the cat litter boxes every morning, and my smallest cat, Brownie, will watch me and inspect them when I’m done. 8. what’s one book you think everyone should read? why? The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson. It’s a very interesting take on self forgiveness, self love, and forgiveness and kindness to others. 9. share a meme u have saved on your phone

10. what’s an aspiration you have that might sound silly but is important to you? Be happy.  1. What band do you remember seriously liking for the first time? / 2. Do you drive a car or a truck? / 3. Does it snow where you live? If not, have you ever experienced snow? / 4. Do you have a cat or a dog? / 5. Is your current job a part of your career path? / 6. Are you happy with your current situation? / 7. Where do you plan to be next summer? / 8. Do you have a set ritual every night, as in, the order you do things once home? / 9. Do you sleep on your back or stomach? / 10. If you could have an ideal life, what would that be? I tag: @lovingrot @carnifcrous @v1doodlebug @hisbarrenlife @therearepeoplewho @rogue-coyote @foxdies​ @geddyleeofficial​ @napoleon--bonaparte​ (this is all I’ve got)

#zeit rambles #this is a novel and made me think #thxs for making me use my brain #my questions suck

[hcmj]

HCMJ’s Favorite Albums of 2019!

Listen to a mix featuring these albums here: HCMJ’s 2019 End Of Year Mix

Other Favorites:

David Bruce - The North Wind Was a Woman

galen tipton - fake meat

upusen - Highland Ave.

BLACKPINK - Kill This Love

Starkey - Earth EP

Lamp - ‘A Distant Shore’ Asia Tour 2018

AWITW - Ｓｈｅ Ｗａｌｋ Ａｌｏｎｅ う者姻

Seaketa - Gion ぎおん

SNJO - Diamond

BONNEVILLE - AFFORDABLE LUXURY

20) Gareth Davis & Scanner - Footfalls

I first found the experimental composition/clarinet music of Gareth Davis in the early 2010′s during my initial dive into the Miasmah catalog. Teamed up here with another electronic musician/clarinetist, Footfalls uses long, poetic waves of deep woodwinds and synth improv to describe hauntingly desolate environments. It only seems fitting to start the list with one of many bookends on a decade in the grim, cold grey of Philadelphia.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

19) Barker - Utility

Arp and delay-driven rhythmic expression that recalls late-era Kraftwerk, building a pristine sci-fi future with ear-pleasing, rich, and laser-sharp production. Like disembodied trance or house music searching for a strong beat that never comes, Utility is absolute, skillfully-stated synth pleasure.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

18) Sean McCann/Seth Graham w/Kymatic Ensemble  - Split Series Vol. IV

Seth Graham’s Gasp was a big favorite in 2018, here condensed and re-imagined for chamber ensemble. Sean McCann’s “Vilon” finds a blissful middle-ground between electronic ambient music and traditional western instrumentation, like a poignant hymn sung somewhere far away, while the new “Gasp” arrangements are full of expressiveness and surprises.

BANDCAMP

17) 猫 シ Corp. & t e l e p a t h - Building a Better World

Deep bass pulses and distant rain welcome us to a familiar comfortable place, but as the unmistakable sound and melodic freedom of telepath’s original synth work bends its way over rolling toms in the reverb-soaked hifi opener, it becomes clear that this album is something new and special. Full-on new age drenched in an endless downpour, it’s a huge and beautiful world that’s blissful to be lost in.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

16) Various Artists - Oneironaut

Another rare case of a compilation that is actually worth listening to, Japanese indie powerhouse Local Visions assembles the best talent from the sax-loving, jazz-infused, post-vaporwave electronic underworld of Japan and beyond in the indomitable Oneironaut comp. Notable contributions from Utsuro Spark, upusen, Tsudio Studio, tamao ninomiya, and countless others deliver a hazy daydream.

BANDCAMP

15) wai wai music resort - WWMR 1

Also from Local Visions comes this special collection of tracks caught somewhere between “lost LP found in a record crate” and “bedroom 4-track” - two distinct lofi flavors that mysteriously meld seamlessly on WWMR 1. It sounds new and old, youthful and mature, and full of affection for love and the music it references.

BANDCAMP | SPOTIFY

14) EXID - Me & You

There’s something about this mini-album, a Christmas time snowy nostalgia as the sun sets on another chapter of life (and era of kpop) in tracks like “나의밤” and “WE ARE..,” the Jamiroquai funk of “내일해 (Urban Mix),” or club igniting title track - EXID may never exist in this form or at this level again, and like so many of my favorites this year it reflects the recent history of its genre brilliantly.

APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

13) Fire-Toolz - Field Whispers (Into the Crystal Palace)

Field Whispers is the stunning next step in the evolution of Fire-Toolz that feels completely at home on the finely-curated Orange Milk. Extended sax-soaked dreams collide with splinters of music jumbled and broken, elegant and disjointed, all bouncing off each other while still leaving room for moments of soaring guitar and dreamy synth pads.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

12) Hakobune - The Last of Our Time Together

With over 50 releases (4 just this year!), Hakobune’s discography can seem like an impenetrable wall of ambience, but like classics Seamless and Here and Love Knows Where, The Last of Our Time Together stands out - monumental and multi-dimensional - a slow dance skidding along the frozen surface of an endlessly deep, rich sea of emotion.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

11) FM Skyline - Advanced Memory Suite

As nostalgic electronic music continues to evolve and find itself elevated in the hands of increasingly-focused musicians, FM Skyline delivers a joyful retrospective on a decade that gave new life to so many old sounds. Exploring the inner recesses of our memory and delusion, Advanced Memory Suite turns the page on a decade of chillwave/synthwave/vaporwave/whateverwave. It’s a hypnotic monument to the modern renaissance.  

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

10) emamouse - Black place on the edge

It was a huge year from the prolific Tokyo-based visual artist and musician emamouse, whose non-stop creative output continues to challenge the very nature of reality. Black place on the edge was a standout favorite this year, layered and mysterious - incidental music for the surreal dreamworld described in mou’s most unnerving illustrations. Like waking up and finding yourself trapped inside Quest 64.

BANDCAMP

09) Koeosaeme - Obanikeshi

My favorite Orange Milk release of the year, Koeosaeme delivers another absolute hurricane of hyper-detailed, sensory-extreme, buckshot-to-the-face arrangements. The sheer amount of data on this album is staggering, with more musical information packed into a few minutes of its blissful chaos than most full length albums combined.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

08) Jaeho Hwang - Non-self 비자아

I was super fortunate to play a show with Jaeho Hwang in Tokyo during this year’s Neo Gaia Phantasy tour - his immense set started so intensely it’s as if the entire room was cast under a shamanistic spell, hypnotized by percussive expressionism, drawn to the light of digitally melting faces and occult rituals playing out on the screen behind him. Non-self 비자아 is without mercy and full of powerful and primal energy.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

07) Weyes Blood - Titanic Rising

Natalie Mering’s subtly expressive, velvety voice on its own is enough to make anything she touches turn to gold, but her songwriting is so masterfully dialed in on Titanic Rising it’s as if Harry Nilsson came back from the dead to write a new volume of pop rock ballads to get us through the next 50 years. It’s an album dripping with love for all the best parts of the 1970′s (Stardust-era Willie Nelson, early ELO, “Lost Weekend” Lennon and friends, etc), but also showcases the compositional chops to match and sometimes surpass its musical lineage (e.g. “Picture Me Better”).

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

06) Monari Wakita - RIGHT HERE

Off the heals of last year’s jaw-dropping Ahead!, ex-Especia Monari Wakita continues to defy modern conventions while asserting herself as one of the most powerful female voices in jpop. “エスパドリーユでつかまえて” sounds like Hitomitoi when she was a rising star, FRIEND IN NEED continues the new jack swing flirting, “やさしい嘘” sounds like it’s begging to be sampled by a future funk artist, and the lead-off single “Just a Crush for Today” is somewhere in a stop-and-go freefall between Billy Joel and Sonic R.

VIDEO 1 | VIDEO 2

05) Yeule - Serotonin II

Beneath the subtle power and diffusion of a voice like an extra-dimensional Julee Cruise, Serotonin II’s beautifully bleak paintings of the world it carefully constructs are reflective of Yeule’s transcendence into the artist’s next form. Crumbling brutalism under a blinding white sky, aliens in a graveyard - the romance of eternal torment in the spiral - all in dark room illuminated by a computer monitor sometime in the 00′s.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

04) The Caretaker - Everywhere at the End of Time - Stage 6

The final release for this multi-year project, capturing a mind being lost to dementia, also marks the end of Leyland Kirby’s multi-decade spanning Caretaker project - a project that has had an immense impact on my perception of the limitlessness of music. Now completed, Everywhere at the End of Time towers as a 50 track, 6.5 hour journey from dreamy lucidity to terrifying confusion and darkness.

BANDCAMP

03) Tsudio Studio - Soda Resort Journey

Tsudio Studio brings a contemporary frame to leisure fantasy. Instant classics “Kiss in KIX,” “Asian Coke Light,” and “Like a Ruin” expand on the electro-bossa pop of Port Island, while surprises like “Beijing Cat” expand and explore new worlds of sound. One perfect chord after another, from start to finish, Soda Resort Journey is bubbly and delicious to listen to. Play it looped, close your eyes, be where you’d rather be.

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

02) Minuano - Butterfly Dream

Lamp vocalist Kaori Sakakibara’s side project Minuano is like some mutant variant of Lamp - equally complex while slightly less disorienting arrangements (although there are a few re-worked Lamp classics on here), tighter pop sound, stunningly immaculate vocal production - all while maintaining the unique orchestral jazz pop that makes both bands such a euphoric joy to listen to. “Memory of Soda Pop” was my favorite track released by anyone this year.

BANDCAMP

01) EQUIP - CURSEBREAKER X

This was the year of EQUIP. No better story for this year, no better sound than CURSEBREAKER X - the songs from this album will always bring back a thousand memories of smoke-filled clubs, dark forests, and snow-capped mountains from across Japan - the building promise of absolute freedom and a happier tomorrow as we all lived the Neo Gaia Phantasy.. But even without my personal connection to the music, the hardware-driven “perfect sound” VGM and EQUIP’s signature cassette tape destruction has never been better balanced than it is here - it’s loud, and filled with unforgettable melodies and unknown lands. It’s monumental and iconic and will stand the test of time and it was my favorite album of 2019!

BANDCAMP | APPLE MUSIC | SPOTIFY

#vaporwave #nuwrld #haunted ballroom #orange milk #chinabot #100% electronica #jpop #kpop #year end #2019

[incorrectcats]

Continued response to the "Disney and Jellicle cats" ask: Tugger was initially dragged into watching Beauty and the Beast by Bomba, but he quickly found himself emphasizing with the Beast and enjoying the movie. He also likes Oliver and Company, mostly for the rocking Billy Joel soundtrack. Another non-Disney film that is a favorite with the tribe is Cats Don't Dance, for obvious reasons. Jenny especially loves it, being an extravagant dancer herself and who enjoys 1930s era of music.

Let me say: YES. Y E S. I love the idea of Tugger pretending not to care for that "kitten stuff" but eventually getting super emotionally involved lol. HE'S A BABY (a big fluffy baby).

And plz, Jenny enjoys anything she can tap dance to, I love it. ❤️ THANKS FOR THE CONTRIBUTION, THIS IS AWESOME AND I LOVE IT!!!!

#cats headcanon #rum tum tugger #jennyanydots #cats musical #cats the musical #disney movies #ask answered

[renjunsbby]

Soft Q&A☁️

I was tagged by the amazing @little-kpop-turtle sending many smooches your way🥰

Rules: Answer the Q&A and tag 5 of your most recent followers and 3 of your biggest fans/fav blogs.

What’s the smell of your shampoo?

Ylang ylang and shea butter

What’s your aesthetic?

Yellow, flowers, big sweaters, blue skies, puffy cotton candy clouds, jasmine tea, waking up early, back hugs, eye smiles, sunrises, after rain humidity, neutral clothing, cool wind, barefoot, dimples and brown eyes, swollen lips, kitty cat toe kisses, genuine love cuddles, plushies, and fruit

What is your favorite time of day?

7-8am when the sun is rising (unless it is a school day)

What do you like the most about the beach?

The smell of coconut tanning lotion, the smothering hot feeling from the sun mixed with drinking cold water, and the justice the salt water does for my curly ass hair

What do you worry about constantly?

I worry about the people around me having all of their needs and wants met if that makes sense? Like if someone is upset and I don’t make them feel better, that is all I will think about. If someone is hungry, I will give them my food so they aren’t hungry. So I am always worrying about the state of everyone’s wellbeing.

What is a song you’ve cried to before?

All I Want by Kodaline because I want a love so so so so deep with a person that I’m helplessly devoted to, but I’m so afraid that it won’t happen and I won’t have someone to give all the love I have to

What are some relaxing tips for your followers?

My main source of relaxing is definitely music. Make a playlist of soft chill music with or without lyrics that don’t have a fast pace beat (I recommend Daniel Caesar, Billie Eilish, or piano/music box covers of your favorite kpop songs!) I also love things that smell good. I suggest lighting a candle or, in my case, put your favorite essential oil in your diffuser to put a nice smell in the air. For me personally, I love things to hug, so find a stuffed animal or pillow and pet/squeeze/lay on it. They provide a very comfortable cozy environment. My last bit of advice it breathe! Breathing is a great way to release relaxing endorphins in your mind and make you feel refreshing at the same time. Breathe in through your nose for 10 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, then slowly release out your mouth for 10 seconds, and repeat this sequence however many times you need.

What are some things that make you tear up?

Watching people get hurt (even if it is in movie,) seeing other people cry, sad books, when someone goes out of there way to make me happy, and the dark

What is your favorite form of each of the five senses?

Touch: kisses, cuddles, and soft sweaters

Smell: jasmine and rain

Taste: watermelon, tea, and smoothies

Hear: live singing and flowing water

Sight: sunrises, anything yellow, and beautiful people

What is one alternate reality you want to live in?

My Neighbor Totoro because the scenery is literally so so so so gorgeous and I adore the idea of living in the country side with the one I love having a garden and a family slfjslksslklsdk

What are most troubled you face daily?

School, eating because of my disease, and overthinking everything

What is a scene of a book that mad you really sad?

The ending of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I can’t even talk about it without choking.

Say something to all of your followers.

You are all so very beautiful and don’t ever tell yourself otherwise. Even though we may not talk a lot or even if we do, always remember you are enough. I deeply love each and every one of you with my whole being and I want to thank you all for being so generous to me. My happiness thrives by the contributions of your presence in my life. I love you my bees💛

I tag: @imaginescorner @uwusource @tthyucks @boopityscooop @marsgotnojams @honey-hae-chan @citrusicheng @stan-magic @lovexuxi @injunsweetheart

#soft q&a #tagged #nct #nct dream #nctzen #nct 127 #nct u #kpop #kpop aesthetic #evelyn+renjun #renjun #huang renjun

[survivormanhattanbeach]

Episode 3: “She hates girls”- Dani

I AM PISSED. I AM SO MAD AT BRANDAN RIGHT NOW. WHAT THE HECK. I WAS TOTALLY TRANSPARENT WITH HIM. HONESTLY??? I WOULD HAVE THOUGHT ABOUtT FLIPPING WITH HIM AND JULIAN IFFFFF THEY WOULD HAVE ASKED ME. AND JULIAN?? I TOLD HIM I HEARD HIS NAME, I TOLD HIM. WHY IS HE ATTACKING ME FOR BEING HONEST??? I'm so glad I have Lucy and Andreas but Brandan better waTCH OUT BECAUSE I HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT HONEST WITH HIM. WHAT THE HECK i'm sorry, i'm just so MAD right now

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO all my alliance members are on different tribes, I am so sad. ALso I'm with Brandan. -___________- I don't know who else is even on my tribe. I like Kevin and the others are all okay but UGH WHY BRANDAN WHEN I AM SO IRRITATED WITH HIM STILL?? bring me back lucy and andreas :( 

Okay so yay for a tribe swap but uhm it's kinda homophobic that not only am I not on a tribe with Dani or Ryan, but that I can't even speak to them now!! I'm still drinking with Dani on Saturday though so suck it hosts. This tribe is alright, like I said not my favorite set up but I don't feel completely screwed. I'm with Joey which is good because he's loyal to me, but people are going to assume we're working together since he picked me, also he isn't good at talking to new people so idk if that's gonna end up bad for us lolol. But yay for being on a tribe with Sarah! Idk she's iconic and I'd like to work with her. I talked to Andreas for a bit and he was nice, I'd hope we could work together. I started talking to Junior again before the swap so I don't feel completely off on him. Billy is the only one I've barely talked to, but he was on Sarah's old tribe so I think they're gonna stick together??? I just hope that we can win some challenges so that I don't have to worry.

when trace and johnny give you lemons.... (ie- brandan) you make lemonade. I am currently kissing brandan's ASS right now. i told him that if he and julian asked me to flip i would have and all kinds of other lies just because i don't need any drama with him on this tribe going forward, I NEED numbers so whatever i'm going to be his new best friend and pretend to forget about tribal but I'm still PISSED. 

This tribe swap is fucking disgusting. Why do i have to be on a tribe with junior. Im just glad jake is here and maybe him, billy and i can work together and grab someone else to work with us if we go to tribal 

Okay so last night I was on call with Joey and he was like "someone told me you wanted to vote me out round 1" and I was like yeah it's true but you didn't have to say it. And big surprise it was Keaton that told him this. So now it's a new day and lo and behold I'm on a tribe with Keaton's snake ass and as much as I don't trust him I have to play nice because the boy knows WAY too much about my game and my personal life for me to risk crossing him so basically I just go from one migraine to another bouncing between my exes. If I get swap fucked I will be showing up in Johnny's PMs with virtual pitchforks. xoxo Madison

https://youtu.be/5oLRQqS00UU

VL Confessional Cause you tried to play both sides You got caught up in your lies And now you're runnin' You're runnin' out of time Try again, cause the game is over https://imgflip.com/gif/2vicz3

Wtf! Why did we switch tribes right as I felt so good????? Now I’m in a tribe where I feel like I can’t connect to anyone except dan and sometimes Tom. I made an alliance with Tom, Madison, and Dan. I’m trying to ensure our safety Incase we do go to tribal. Keaton came to me and said he wants to target Madison and honestly I’m really down for that. So I think I can use this as an advantage. I can either tell Madison Keaton is after him and we get him. Or I can team up with Keaton and Lucy and get one other person to flip and we get Madison. Tbh only down for Madison because she doesn’t seem to like me at all. I’ve also heard she hates girls. Which is a little obvious :p. I hate that. GIRLS GOTTA PROTECT GIRLS. But nooooo she loves attention. Ok ranting done.

VL CONFESSIONAL I feel like Jake is my #1, but Dani is visiting him today(lucky girl.) I feel like I would do a disservice to a majority of straight men in this game if I didn’t hum the intro to “Ether” at least once. Also, fuck Jay-Z.

Heya, time for a little update! As of now, I am getting a little frustrated with my tribe (love Jake though). But before I get carried away, let's see how well we do in the immunity challenge. I am not sold on the song choice, but I appreciate that a few people give active input. I'll do my part as best as I can and hope that it'll be enough for at least 2nd place... Should we lose, I'll try to get a solid group with Jake and Junior, and add a player, who one of the other three wanna vote for. At this point, none of Joey, Sarah or Billy play a major role for my future plans in this game. Billy could become a close ally as he seems to be very underrated in this game. Sarah could become a close ally because she's a cool cat. Joey idk about. We're not bonding that well rn. 

I have no faith in my tribe at all I somehow feel like this video is about to be 3 minutes of just me and a cameo of mark and his adorable kids x_x Time to make my cousins make some videos with me so I have a lot to edit in because I SURE can’t rap in time with this song 

Okay Isaac is sending weird clips of himself from challenges I’m not sure if that will cut it but I’ll take whatever I can edit together at this point DJSJS

Me seeing the other videos and prepping to go to tribal... also a picture of Tom booty poppin should be on the dvd cover

VL CONFESSIONAL THANK YOU JUDGESSSSSSSSSS! YOU GUYS ROCK! JESS LET ME BUY YOU A BUNCH OF TIM HORTONS. Alyssa, fried chicken at Red Rooster on me when I visit😃?

I know I haven’t been around much. But I hate this swap. I hate this tribe. I know NO ONE who I feel will be willing to keep me safe with them. So I actually have to work hard to talk to people. Music videos are not my forte. But I have to contribute because if we lose then I’ll be someone on the chopping block for sure. And I can’t have that. I’m just hopping we can slam challenges and then we can make it to the next swap. But I hope Sarah and Jake stay close with me. I really like them both. Jake is really cool to talk to and he’s not bad to look at either. Sarah is my soul sister. Then there’s Joey, who has this plan to get rid of Andreas and honestly I’m kinda ok with it. Anyone but me is how I’m feeling. I just gonna find somewhere to sink my teeth into this game and take a bite. I don’t want to be a background day player with no story line and shitty gameplay.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=zfISjcq23KU

Okay so I think I'm gonna go for Billy this round. I didn't want to lose because I think I have good connections with everyone on our tribe, but someone's gotta go. Billy makes me worried now because he said in our tribe chat that Tom told him we lost, so bitch you cross tribaling??? Andreas and Junior both told me they like me and each other so I think they're trying to form a group of 3 there? Sarah also said she liked me and Billy and I like Sarah but it might be hard trying to get her to vote Billy out. Joey originally said he wanted Andreas out and that he likes Billy, but Billy told me and Junior that Joey was spreading Andreas name, so I let Joey know that Billy's doing that, and I think Joey trusts him less now. We'll see what happens. I just don't my name going around like last time. I just need another tribe swap ASAP.

So now were going to tribal bc johnny announced the results wrong. Johnny is a pissy player and cant stand when other hosts mess up but wants us to understand when he does..hm TEA Anyways ill see what i can do to make sure I do not go home. I think i have junior, and jake and billy but we shall see

Literally fuck off. HOW IS IT FAIR THAT THE HOSTS fucked up and they wont give us an extension??? INTERESTING????????? Why does one tribe get over a day and we get less than 12 hours..lol ok what ever maybe get your fucking shit together before fucking over ppls games 

Well look at it, we lost again. Great! Just great! And people seem to be thrilled to go to Tribal Council! They're so excited that they throw the challenges! So me being a straight shooter, I immediately target Billy, who has slacked the most on this new tribe and would be a fair call (on paper). But it's only natural that people have their own agenda and I am being targeted by Joey and Billy at least. Sure, Joey might still be up in the air, but either way, I NEED to believe in Jake and Junior here to vote for for Billy, or I am toast. And if Billy doesn't step up next round, so are Jake and Junior. I have nothing against Billy, but this season we don't really get along too well. We had a fun chat today, but it felt like it was too little to late for me in this season. Let's see what happens in this mess of a round :D Love Johnny though, I don't blame him. I really wanna stay and fight for all the people on my tribe to stay in this game!

Ok, so as per usual in premerge, my fate rests within other peoples hands. That's just how I play and that's totally okay with me. The scenarios I can see are: 4-2 Billy/Me (which is what's being sold to me sort of with Billy and Sarah voting for me) 4-2 Me/Billy (if Jake sticks to Joey and they decide to ride the tide and vote out Billy over Junior if they lose another TC) 5-1 Me/Billy (if they all wanna be safe lmao, but Junior seems really sincere, so I doubt this happens!) I can't scramble too hard at this vote, because I really feel that Jake wants to keep me around and me reaching out to others will make me appear like a bigger name to write down. I 50:50 Hate/Love each tribe I'm on and I hate that I am such a sulky old man in this season, but that's just a new facette of good old me.

https://youtu.be/i6ZY0hrvDaM

I am SO glad that we won! the judges were HARSH, huh? But it's okay, we still won! I really hope that andreas is going to be okay tonight, I'm just a little worried but I think maybe Billy will be the one to go?? Maybe. 

I fucking wrote out a long ass confessional and then it refreshed and I wanna die, so here are the highlights: I love how Johnny has progressed enough in life to recruit 5 iconic female judges in the name of feminism, but has not progressed enough to perform basic arithmetic I want the f5 to be original Robinsons and I trust them as follows: Mark > Dani = Ryan > Junior I want a f3 with Mark and Junior because Dani is a big social threat and I would always vote for a woman over a man because fuck men, and it’s like the laws of feminism I’m really happy I haven’t had to go to tribal yet, let’s keep it moving and NO DOUBLE OR TRIPLE TRIBALS PLSSSS

It looks like this is a wrap y’all. Unless sarah actually pulled some miracle out of her ass and convinced them all to vote Andreas then it’s time to blow my flame out. I’ve been on the outs ever since I was picked last. So I guess this shouldn’t be a surprise. 

#tsmanhattanbeach

[shadowtearling]

SEPTEMBER 2018 — I read a good variety of books this month! From romance to middle grade to adult fantasy and more in between. I’m ~expanding my horizons~ lol. I’m quite happy with my reading :D

Hate to Want You by Alisha Rai

This is the healthiest toxic relationship ever? That sounds weird to say but it’s true? I had no idea what I was walking into when I picked this up (only that it was recommended to me, and I was in need of romance lol). I really like the talk about mental health and getting help and learning to get better even if it’s a slow and painful process. I also just love [spoiler]. 

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare

I have found love in the historical romance genre, and it’s great. I didn’t realize that Tessa Dare was like The Writer for this genre because I don’t know much about it in the first place. But I’m really glad she was the first I picked up because I really just love this so much. I can’t even explain myself, but this was so much fun. I laughed a lot, and there were so many beautiful soft moments of learning to love yourself as well as letting other people in. It was unexpected in the best way. I’m definitely going to pick up the next book in this series and check out more Tessa Dare in the future! :D

REREAD! Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

I wanted to reread this before I dove into all the Pride and Prejudice adaptations my little heart desired. I didn’t even plan that. But it happened, and I don’t regret it. Having read it this second time made me see just how scandalous this book was lmao. I will say, too, that the ending is one of Austen’s better ones. It wasn’t rushed the way a lot of her other novels are. But really, I’m here for the angst. And Mr. Bennet is the worst dad ever, but he’s funny lol

A Thousand Beginnings and Endings edited by Elsie Chapman and Ellen Oh

I feel like I’ve talked this book to death. It is just like other anthologies out there, full of stories both good and bad or ones you resonate with more than others. I initially picked it up for the two Filipino-centric stories because I’m always looking for that. However, neither really took my breath away the way I wanted them to. I did enjoy a handful of the stories and would still recommend this because it’s full of interesting myths that I feel like I learned a lot. (Review here, stories ranked!)

Two Dark Reigns by Kendare Blake

Listen, I love Billy Junior a lot, and it is a disservice to not have him in every single scene ever. As ever, I really enjoy this series, though it’s definitely not for everyone. I like its unpredictability because you really just never know where anything is going. It’s a soft kind of wild ride, I guess. It’s easy to get sucked into this world. I think Fennbirn (now versus the Mainland) is interesting, and I always love the world building. I love learning about past queens and how they contributed to making Fennbirn what it is as the three queens know it. Though for that ending, I’m really just about to reach into the book and choke Mirabella lmao. 

Dealing with Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this. I say that because I really had no expectations, but from page one I fell in love with Cimorene and her no-bullshit attitude. I loved her relationship with the dragons and just how well-rounded she is as a character. Of all the four POVs, hers is definitely my favorite. She’s so witty and fun. We stan a legend.

Calling on Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

My favorite in the series! I love Mendanbar even though he’s a dick about other princesses. This is the one that made me really giddy because you know he’s fighting a losing battle against his feelings ;) It was a lot of fun learning about his type of magic (and then Telemain’s), and this was basically a magical roadtrip involving dragons, wizards, and love. 

Searching for Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

I like Morwen. I think she’s a really interesting character, and the cats were a fun addition to the story. However, out of all the books in the series, this is the most forgettable. I say that because I barely remember anything that happened in this. What I do remember is Killer, who was overbearing at times and, in my opinion, not all that necessary to the plot save for his introduction as the plot’s catalyst. 

Talking to Dragons by Patricia C. Wrede

If book 3 is the most forgettable, this one is the most... unnecessary? I should forgive it its faults because it was written before the other three were and is technically the foundation of the series, but I found that I didn’t care for Daystar as much as I would have liked. Being in first person didn’t help his case because dude felt almost emotionless. I was also bored the entire way through this book because I knew everything that Daystar didn’t. And I was frustrated for it. If I’d read this first, I would have enjoyed it more. But as it is now presented as the fourth book, it just feels like a summary of the last three books and one whose ending was already predicted in the third book.

The Queens of Innis Lear by Tessa Gratton

I don’t hate this, I don’t love it, but it’s not average. A really big issue is that though the writing in this is really pretty and matches the atmosphere of the world, it is also most of the time empty and unnecessary. This book could have been 100-200 pages shorter. Everything was overexplained but not a lot actually added to the story. I also couldn’t understand the organization of the chapters where sometimes there’s a devoted section for a flashback and others it’s just thrown into someone’s POV. If you know what happens in King Lear, you basically know what happens in this. The magic system was interesting, but the ending was hella anti-climactic. I’m conflicted. (Review here, with spoiler section!)

#wrap up #2018 #wrap up 2018 #booklr #bookish #readingwu #readingwu 2018

[whorror-jpeg]

Dating Billy Hargrove Headcanons

there is some nsfw in this one.

Requests Are: Open

You’d meet him at a movie theater while working.

“Hey, haven’t seen you here before, gorgeous.” “Aren’t you on house arrest or something?”

After a few weeks you two actually went on a date, and after a while of dating, you’d notice how he’s changed as a person

He wasn’t in as many fights

He’d gotten his priorities straight

He figured out he actually really likes his step-sister and her friends

He wasn’t mean to people anymore

His grades were up, he’d gotten offered a basketball scholarship

He actually likes art and photography, he'd never tell Jonathan though.

His wallet would be FLOODED with pictures of the two of you

Yours would be too, along with your mirror.

Pictures of you kissing, holding hands, smiling at eachother

The stupid and dorky pictures would definitely be there

Like he’d take pictures of you at the most inconvenient times

You eating, sneezing, yawning, you name it

“BILLY YOU BETTER  THROW IT AWAY RIGHT THE FUCK NOW” “Babe, you’re so cute though!”

PDA

All the time

Anywhere

You contributed too

You’d pinch his butt and make him yelp

“What the fuck, (Y/N)?!”

“Stop wearing girls skinny jeans and that wouldn’t happen.”

He’d help you with your chores

Because he loves domestic shit

A lot

He’d gotten a haircut and you loved it

It was still a little curly on the top, but the sides were shaved and he had a boyish charm to him present.

He’s a good cook, much to your surprise.

A lot of your dates are spent at your house when your parents aren’t home. He’d cook for you and you’d talk about your day to each other

He loves your pets.

Got a dog? He’d let it lick his face.

Got a cat? It’s guaranteed you’d find him later with it on his chest while they both slept

He’s fucking terrified of birds though.

“IT’S AN ANIMAL IT SHOULDN’T BE ABLE TO SAY WHAT I’M SAYING AND LOOK AT IT’S EYES OH MY FUCKING GOD”

When he opened up to you you realized a lot about the reasons of his behavior

The abuse

He truly believes his Dad’s behavior is because of him

His insecurities

He's full of self-loathing

Being bullied in the past, believe it or not

He cries a lot, despite what he does in public

He. Loves. Dancing.

He was an outstanding citizen, perfect boyfriend quality in front of your parents

Meaning your mom loved him and your dad would talk about basketball with him

Your siblings would climb all over him

He’d act annoyed after

But in the moment he had so much fun.

If he was in modern times, he’d love cage the elephant and your song would be Robbers by The 1975.

He had nightmares a lot

He’d beg you to not leave him after each one

He loves your ass and chest, because let’s be real, it’s Billy

But he’d also adore the things you found weird

Any fat? It’s adorable

Any weird birthmark/scar/freckle? Expect those to be kissed, all the time

He’s a shoulder, ribcage, hand, and eye lover too

In public he’d let everyone know you two are together

Holding hands, kissing, a hand on your ass, something intimate

But that wasn’t his definition of intimate

When you two were alone, he’d just hold you

Forehead kisses were saved for your bad days

Cheek kisses were for when he knew he was in trouble or he was being cheeky

He’s a protective boy

“What the fUCK ARE YOU LOOKING AT” “Billy, it’s literally Steve.” “INEWFIOWEFNEIWN I DON’T CARE”

He’d be the one to say I love you first, and it’d be emotional

He’d finally get along with your friends

"I know they mean a lot to you. And they make you happy. You're my girl, I want you happy."

You're really proud of him.

Lots of respecc to you

He genuinely gets scared when you’d go off at him

He’d just stand there completely still, eyes wide

And if you walked off for a few minutes and came back? He’s still there.

His headstrong ass only apologizes to you. No one else.

“You’re home to me, (Y/N).”

!Nsfw!

Sex… all the time

It was very wide range

Angry and/or rough sex

He’d make fun of your soreness

He’s kinky, likes control

But if you took control? Holy fuck.

Sensual and passionate sex? Check.

Foreplay

Light touches, body kisses

Oral, you or him

HiS mOaNs

"Shit baby girl, keep going."

"Yeah, just like that."

"Ugh, fuck."

Aftercare, no matter what

He'd also clean you up. Jizz is gross.

He’d be the big spoon, all the time

Only because he likes kissing between your shoulder blades and on the back of your neck

He’d trail his fingers on your shoulders and sides lightly while you slept.

He asks for permission every time, even if it’s already heated

“I need a yes or no for consent. A blatant one.”

You always came first, in more ways than one.

#billy hargrove #billy hargrove x reader #billy hargrove headcanon #st #stranger things #steve harrington #jonathan byers #max hargrove #billy hargrove smut

[dustedmagazine]

Listed: Jeffrey Silverstein

Jeffrey Silverstein is a songwriter living in Portland, Oregon. He has been making music for over a decade. Prior to relocating to Portland, Silverstein released music with Brooklyn-based duo Nassau and Baltimore’s Secret Mountains. You Become the Mountain is his second solo album, inspired by the Pacific Northwest, meditation, long-distance running and Silverstein’s work as a special education teacher. Reviewing it for Dusted, Jennifer Kelly observed that “You Become the Mountain explores the conjunction of the natural world and whatever’s beyond it, in slow blossoming instrumentals that carry you out of the moment into a calm meditative space.”

Staple Singers – Freedom Highway

I’d initially caught wind of the Staple Singers via The Last Waltz and praise from Dylan and Levon Helm, but diving into their catalogue of soul, folk, gospel and R&B has been one of the most rewarding listening and record-collecting experiences. I started with a re-press of their 1959 debut Uncloudy Day and have spent so many slow weekend mornings listening to Pops’ signature tremolo guitar and the pure vocal arrangements of Mavis, Pervis, and Cleotha. A defining album of the Civil Rights Movement, Freedom Highway is one of the most powerful live recordings and performances I’ve ever heard. Recorded at Chicago’s New Nazareth Church in 1965, hearing the congregation react to this music is soul-stirring.

George Harrison – All Things Must Pass

I could yammer for days about how big of an impact this record plus George’s playing have had on me. The packaging for the 3-LP set is gorgeous. It’s a record that grounds you and sets you back on the path. Hard to argue with contributions from Billy Preston and Eric Clapton. More recently I’ve come to appreciate the pedal-steel work from Pete Drake. Been listening to a lot of Pete Drake, Red Rhodes and Buddy Emmons recently. “Wah-Wah,” which might have the greatest riff of all time, being written on the day he left the Beatles, is also one of my favorite pieces of George trivia. Really nice demo version of “All Things Must Pass” here.

Jerry Garcia – Garcia

My interest in the Dead has grown quickly over the past 4-5 years. I think the best way to get into ’em is to find our own way in. Jerry’s first solo release Garcia from 1972 served as a really nice entry point for me. I just cannot get enough of “Bird Song” and these versions of “Deal” and “Sugaree.” This album also sent me down a path of listening to more of the Jerry Garcia Band and his work with Merl Saunders. Definitely a record that keeps on giving.

Vetiver – Tight Knit

It’s no secret I’m a big fan of all things Andy Cabic/Vetiver. This record holds up over a decade later. No skips, phenomenal songwriting and band. “Rolling Sea” is one of the best album openers and “Another Reason To Go” is the deepest groove. Watching them live around the time this record came out made me realize how important having the right players behind you can be. If I had to narrow down my record collection to only three, I’m 100% this record would make the cut.

Akron/Family – self-titled

Discovering the music of Akron/Family rewired my brain. I miss seeing them live more than anything but am glad to have their albums to soften the blow. This record captures so much of what I appreciate about music and I have the same “holy shit” moment every time I return to it a few times a year. It’s the record I point to over and over when people ask me what my influences are. Listen to this album immediately, please.

Ted Lucas – self-titled

This is a record I want everyone to hear at least once in their lifetime. It stopped me dead in my tracks the first time I heard it. Grateful to the folks over at Yoga Records for making it more widely available. You MUST also hear the Blind Boys of Alabama doing “I’ll Find A Way (to carry it all).”

Hailu Mergia – Wede Harer Guzo

This is my go-to Sunday morning album. Originally released in 1978, I still have never heard music that comes close to sounding like this. Spellbinding and tremendously grounding.

Norma Tanega – “Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog”

Steve Gunn turned me on to this record. Norma Tanega was an American folk and pop singer-songwriter, painter, and experimental musician. An unmarried queer woman born of immigrants, Tanega’s hit single “Walking a Cat Named Dog” landed her on the billboard top 100 chart and a slot on American Bandstand. Tanega’s music would go on to be covered by the likes of Art Blakey, Barry McGuire and contemporary artists including Yo La Tengo and Thee Oh Sees. After releasing her second and final solo LP, Tanega moved back to California where she worked as a public school teacher and focused on painting and making experimental music using earthenware instruments. Stunning arrangements, guitar playing, and lyrics.

Peals – Walking Field

Beautiful record from William Cashion (Future Islands) + Bruce Willen (Double Dagger) This record pushed me towards more instrumental/ambient music. I love records that can establish mood quickly and this one does just that.

Bobby Charles – self-titled

Tracked at Bearsville Studios and co-produced by Rick Danko, this album is a collection of laid-back Americana with enough of Charles’ Cajun influence to keep things interesting. Sometimes referenced as a “lost” record of The Band, Garth, Levon, and Richard all made contributions. Sung in his signature drawl, Charles has an uncanny way of making the simplest joys in life the most interesting on songs like “Let Yourself Go,” “Grow Too Old,” and “Tennessee Blues.” A reissue is now available via Light in the Attic.

#dusted magagzine #listed #jeffrey silverstein #staple singers #george harrison #jerry garcia #andy cabic #vetiver #akron/family #ted lucas #hailu mergia #norma tanega #peals #bobby charles

[aaltohelsinki]

Aalto-Helsinki 2020 is here, come meet us!

The time has come for Aalto-Helsinki 2020 to finally take over the blog! Despite the COVID-19 situation, we have been busy with planning our project since February. We have brainstormed, read countless scientific articles, contacted experts and companies and had a lot of online meetings. 

 Now let us introduce ourselves:

Tytti

I did my Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology and Chemical Engineering and decided to continue with Biotechnology to the Master’s studies. What fascinates me the most about biotechnology is that we can study and engineer the tiniest components of life and at the same time do industrial scale production with them. I applied to iGEM because I’m very interested in entrepreneurship and this project mimics all the different elements that are needed to develop a business. Apart from science, my favourite things in life are playing the guitar, spending time in nature and enjoying tea.

An adventurous trip you have been on? My most recent adventurous trip was to Norway because I had always wanted to visit the Arctic Ocean. There was this fishing boat where some Finnish guy had designed a sauna among other unusual things. After warming up in that sauna, I jumped from the deck to the ice-cold water. It was cool to actually experience the Arctic Ocean fully!

Your most extraordinary skill? Making perfectly thin “muurikka” crepes

What is your favourite board game? Pandemic, rising tide version.

Carla

I am currently studying in the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology MSc program at the University of Helsinki. I completed my Bachelor’s degree in Genetics at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), in Barcelona, Spain. I have always been interested in Genetics and Evolution of organisms. I believe that a lot has still to be learnt about evolution mechanisms to make insights that can be applied to healthcare and medicine. In my free time I like to exercise, I am a bouldering enthusiast and I also try to go running as much as I can. I love watching movies as well. I applied to iGEM because it seemed the perfect opportunity to work with a multidisciplinary team and get to know people from different science fields. I consider myself an extroverted and curious person, so this could be the perfect opportunity to make new friends and learn from them. I thought it would also be the perfect opportunity to start a project on a topic of interest for all of us from scratch.

What is your favourite movie of all time? I don’t have a unique favorite movie, but my list of must watch movies is the following: Inception, Shutter Island, Green Book, The Good Will Hunting, The Shawshank Redemption, Jungle, Into the Wild, Mr. Nobody, Untouchable, Captain Fantastic, Interstellar, Donnie Darko, V for Vendetta and Dead Poets Society.

What kind of music do you listen to? I don’t only listen to one type of music, I like all types. Some international artists that I like are: Jonathan Wilson, John Frusciante, Steven Wilson, Eddie Vedder, Chet Faker, Gus Dapperton, Isaac Gracie, Billie Eilish, The Kooks, and Men I Trust among others. When talking about Catalan and Spanish music I usually listen to rumba, and rock, and also a bit of pop.

Your dream travel destination? My dream travel destinations would be: Iceland, Canada, Japan and Australia!

Amanda

I am studying at the Bachelor’s programme in Science in the chemistry study track at the University of Helsinki. In this year’s iGEM team I will work in the wet-lab but I am also involved with the funding, human practices and business. I applied to Aalto-Helsinki team to get the opportunity to take theory to practice and to learn a lot. In my free time I like cooking, baking, crocheting, knitting and gardening. I recently bought a greenhouse, where I will grow lots this summer!

What’s the most interesting or adventurous trip you have been on? Hard choice, but I would have to say the trip to Kenya with my family. So different and we saw a lot of animals and the whole Big Five! 

What is your favourite board game now? And as a child? I think my favorite board game now is Dixit, but as a child I think it was Kimble.

Coffee or tea? Definitely tea, preferably green or white.

Artur

I study bioinformation technology at Aalto University. My minor is computer science. My role in our iGEM team is dry-lab and during the project I will be focusing on modelling as well as wiki development. I applied to iGEM because I wanted to be a part of a student driven team project and international competition. In my free time I enjoy programming, playing video games and going to the gym. 

Your best tip to survive the quarantine? Outdoor activity, that does not require other people e.g. skateboarding and riding bicycle. Also playing video games with friends and watching tv series makes it easy.

 What is your favourite movie of all time? Definitely Interstellar. After watching this for the third time I still get chicken skin. This almost three hour movie is a perfect combination of action, sci-fi and drama. Hans Zimmer did an astonishing job on music in this movie. I still keep one of the movie's soundtrack as my wake-up alarm. It's so good!

 Who is your favourite scientist and why? Theoretical physicist Michio Kaku. I remember watching his show on Discovery Channel about black holes and teleportation. He got me interested in science and that's why he is my favourite scientist.

Daria 

I am a second year master's student in Genetics and Molecular Biosciences, with focus on Molecular and Analytical Biosciences at the University of Helsinki. I have done my bachelor's in Biotechnology at the University of Silesia. I have experience in both environmental and biomedical research.

What was your favourite game to play as a child? Scavenger hunt. We lived right next to the forest, it felt good to be there for hours unsupervised. 

What’s the grossest food you ever had to eat to be polite? Bananas. My culinary nemesis. Being grossed out by them is one of my earliest childhood memories.

What was the worst haircut you ever had? Bob at the age of 13. Thanks, mum. 

Emilia

I have a Bachelor’s degree in Biotechnology from Tampere University and I’m now continuing my MSc (Tech) studies at Aalto University School of Chemical Engineering, major in Biotechnology. In my free time, I work out at the gym and love to cook. Also, I enjoy being outside in nature and spending time with my family and friends. I applied to iGEM because of my passion for life sciences and interest in challenging myself. I wanted to be a part of a powerful team of young professionals who share the same goal to achieve something meaningful. iGEM is a unique opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary team and carry out a research project from start to finish. In this iGEM project, my main responsibility is working in the wet-lab and obtaining funding. I will also contribute to human outreach activities and updating the team’s social media. Furthermore, I hope to learn more about bioinformatics and modeling. I have some experience in biomedical research and I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge in the field of synthetic biology during the iGEM project. In the future, I wish to work with innovations which would somehow improve the quality of life.

What is your favorite time of the day and why? I love quiet mornings. I want to enjoy my morning coffee in peace and start my day without rushing. On the other hand, I also love spectacular sunsets, especially during the summer in the Finnish archipelago.

Your dream travel destination? Iceland. I would love to get to experience its unique nature, geysers and hot springs.

Coffee or tea? Coffee, of course.

Gustav

I am currently finishing my first year of masters studies in biosystems and biomaterials engineering. I applied for iGEM since I have always been interested in cell mechanisms and the intriguing and complex principles behind these cellular-systems. In the Aalto-Helsinki team, I am primarily doing wet-lab and budgeting, which means that I’m currently mostly researching data and cell-mechanisms related to our project. I often find one hobby at a time for which I am very passionate until I get tired of it and eventually switch. Previous hobbies have included been sewing, chess and origami, but for the moment I most do horticulture. 

What is your dream travel destination? I would love to see the Socotra Island and the strange species living there.

 What makes you happy? A cup of good quality tea in the evening.

 Cats or dogs? Both??

Julia

I study Molecular Bioscience at the University of Helsinki. My part in iGEM is mainly in the wet lab, but I also take part in social media and human practises. Outside of iGEM I enjoy reading and listening to music, as well as playing video games and D&D. I applied to iGEM because I wanted to do something different and concrete with my knowledge and skills. Besides molecular biology for the last year I’ve been studying Chinese and hope to be fluent in it one day.

Most interesting trip you have been on? A couple of years ago my friends and I went on a trip to Chongqing, China. The trip was very pleasant despite none of the locals knowing English, the hole in the outer wall of the room or there being no warm water for the first couple of days. One thing led to another and we somehow ended up as models for the hostel’s website, which meant a full-blown photoshoot with free drinks and food. Afterwards the hostel owner even treated us to delicious hot pot!

Also, the baby pandas were cute.

What is your favourite book of all time? The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman. The heroine of the story is refreshingly sensible, the plot innovative and the book builds an interesting world for the sequels. Would recommend to anyone who likes fantasy, paranormal, or is interested in librarians using spycraft to steal books from alternative worlds.

Coffee or tea? Most definitely tea. Jasmine tea is especially close to my heart.

Maria

I am a third-year physics student from the University of Helsinki, majoring in theoretical physics and minoring in computer science. My main motivation for applying to iGEM was to apply my science skills to a real-world problem. I’m also eager to learn how research projects work. In our project I will focus on modelling, human practices and social media. Besides science, I love languages, especially French. In my free time I enjoy ballet, board games, walks and reading.

What fictional world would you love to visit?  With all the chaos in the world currently, I’d love nothing more than to escape to Moominvalley. Moominmamma’s pancakes and a worry-free life sound really appealing. I’d also like to visit Hogwarts, I have been waiting for my letter since I was 10.

What skill would you love to master? I’d love to master flying, imagine all the freedom it would bring! However, all my attempts so far have failed. I wonder why that is.

What is your favourite board game? Probably Battlestar Galactica or Dale of Merchants.

Nata

I study Biosystems and Biomaterials Engineering in the program of Life Science Technologies at Aalto University. I completed my Bachelor's degree in Biotechnology and Chemical Technology. In this journey of iGEM, I'm responsible for Human Practice activities and taking part in the wet-lab work as well. In my free time, when I'm not passionately studying life sciences or being fascinated by nature, I keep myself active with group gymnastics, friends and family. I applied to iGEM to be part of the fascinating project in the field of synthetic biology. I'm sure that we will learn precious skills of planning, team working and presenting as well as meet many wonderful people! Currently beside the iGEM, I'm working with seedlings of tomatoes and herbs that I will relocate in my glass house when it gets warmer. 

Describe your dream job: In my dream job, I would be able to utilize the field of life sciences to help people and the environment at the same time.

Your best tip to survive the quarantine? Your favourite movie of all time?

 My tip to survive this quarantine would be to spend time in nature and watch as many movies as possible. One of the movies should definitely be my all time favourite: The Intouchables.